Visa launched its new Cyber Fusion Center today in Ashburn. Virginia. The Center is a secure facility that enables rapid cyber threat detection and centralized command and control for cyber operations.

The new Cyber Center “gives our cyber operations team a central hub for identifying new and emerging fraud trends and coordinating our information sharing efforts,” said Bill Sheedy, Global Executive of Corporate Strategy, M&A, Government Relations at Visa. “As home to one of our largest data centers, and the new Cyber Fusion Center, the Commonwealth of Virginia has been a critical partner in Visa’s efforts to maintain the security and reliability of the world’s largest payment network.”

“This state-of-the-art Cyber Fusion Center shows that Virginia continues to be at the forefront of the growing cybersecurity market and a national hub for innovative cyber technology. Cyberattacks present a critical threat to our national security and our economy, and both the private and the public sector need to be better prepared to address the escalating threats posed by hackers out to steal individuals’ personal information. With our unique federal, educational and technology assets, Virginia is poised to take advantage of this growing market,” said U.S. Senator Mark Warner. ?

“Fortune 500 companies like Visa choose to start and grow in Virginia, and particularly my home of Loudoun County, because we can offer the highly skilled workforce, infrastructure, and quality of life they’re looking for,” Attorney General Mark Herring. “In my two years as attorney general, we have been notified of more than 600 data breaches involving the personal and financial information of Virginians, from a single lost hard drive to massive hacks affecting hundreds of thousands. With these kinds of threats growing in frequency and sophistication, facilities and expertise like this will be increasingly important to our economic success.”

“Our administration has been working hard to build a new Virginia economy and make the Commonwealth the leader in cybersecurity for this nation and around the globe," said Governor Terry McAuliffe. “ We are committed to creating a highly skilled cyber workforce to make sure that Visa and other companies can continue to grow here in the Commonwealth. Our budget includes funding for cybersecurity scholarships and apprenticeships, as well as support for colleges and universities seeking to establish Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. These investments will enable us to keep Virginia out front in the cybersecurity sector.”